Golf club head

Abstract

A putter-type golf club head is provided having enhanced moment of inertia and alignment characteristics. The putter head includes a front body and a weight body. The weight body includes a central weight section extending rearwardly from the front body a prescribed distance to a rear weight section. The putter head is configured such that the rear weight section has a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight section. Thus, both the longitudinal and lateral moments of inertia are improved to offer greater forgiveness and increased accuracy during putts. The central weight section may include at least one and more preferably two elongated, high-density elements that are visible on a top surface of the sole between the front body and the rear weight section. The visibility of the elongated elements, with optional parallel markings on a top surface of the golf club head, also act as alignment aids to the golfer.

1 . A putter-type golf club head comprising: 
 a front body defining a front surface and an opposing rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end; and    a weight body including 
 an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and  
 a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the rear weight is spaced from the front body by at least 2.5 cm.  
   
   
   
       2 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.  
   
   
       3 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the weight body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods being visible from above the putter head.  
   
   
       4 . A putter-type golf club head comprising: 
 a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end and a height measured from a bottom to a top of the front surface; and    a weight body including 
 an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and  
 a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight and having a height greater than the height of the sole and less than the height of the front body.  
   
   
   
       5 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.  
   
   
       6 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the weight body includes two tungsten rods extending rearwardly from the front body throughout the length of the weight body, the tungsten rods being visible from above the putter head.  
   
   
       7 . A putter-type golf club head comprising: 
 a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end;    a sole extending rearwardly from the front surface; and    a weight body including 
 an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and  
 a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the central weight includes at least one elongated, high-density element that is visible from above the putter head.  
   
   
   
       8 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the central weight comprises two tungsten rods that extend through the rear weight.  
   
   
       9 . A putter-type golf club head comprising: 
 a front body having a front surface and a rear surface, the front body having a width measured from a toe end to a heel end;    a sole extending rearwardly from the front surface; and    a weight body including 
 an elongated central weight projecting rearwardly from a mid-portion of the front body and oriented generally perpendicular to the front surface of the front body, and  
 a rear weight spaced from the front body such that the central weight extends therebetween, the rear weight having a width less than the width of the front body and greater than a width of the central weight; wherein the central weight includes at least two elongated, high-density elements that are visible between the front body and the rear weight from above the putter head and the rear weight includes a high-density element positioned about a centerline of the putter head.  
   
   
   
       10 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the at least two high-density elements extend through the rear weight and are visible at a rear end of the putter head.  
   
   
       11 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the putter head is formed of a material having a density less than 10 g/cc and the at least two high-density elements are formed of a material having a density greater than 11 g/cc.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising an alignment mark on a top of the putter head extending from the front body to the rear weight.  
   
   
       13 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the front body includes a face plate that defined at least a portion of the front surface.  
   
   
       14 . The golf club head as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the face plate comprises a metal material.